Sorghum grown under poor management - Organic Africa

Crop Management M9: Sorghum U4 1African Organic Agriculture Training Manual

Sorghum grown under poor management

Continuous planting of sorghum season after season

Use of poor seeds

No cover crops or mulches to conserve water in the soil

Compaction of soil with tracking animals and tractors

Poor weed management

Poor harvests

Burning of crop residues or overgrazing of harvested fields

No hedges to protect the soil from erosion by wind

Poor pest and disease management


Improved cultivation of sorghum

Use of healthy seeds of adapted cultivars

Rotation of sorghum with legumes

Proper weed management

Application of compost or animal manure, or growing green manures

Regular monitoring of pest and diseases

Good harvests

Intercropping of Striga trap crops

Mulching of soil surface

Integration of animalsIntercropping of pest trap crops


Selection of appropriate cultivars

The new variety we are trying out seems to grow well under our

conditions, but will it make heads? Our local variety, planted at the

same time, is near maturity.


Criteria for selecting sorghum cultivars

› Type corresponding to the intended use› Adapted to local growing conditions› Tolerance to the main local pests and diseases

like leaf diseases, green bugs, sorghum midge, stemborers, panicle feeding bugs

› Early and uniform maturity› Dual purpose with good grain and good stover

yields to provide fodder for livestock also› Grain quality that corresponds to processing

requirements and consumer preferences


Avoiding burning of organic material

Rotating or intercropping sorghum with legumes

Applying compost or animal manure

Covering the soil with mulch

GroundnutsLegume

Cotton

Sorghum intercropped with Desmodium

Growing green manures

How to ensure good nutrition of sorghum


Blind harrowing

Weeds Crops

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18

Flexible harrow/

chain harrow

Plough/harrow

10 12 14 16 18 Days

Days

Flaming

In ploughed fields with bare soil weedscan be controlled using a tine weeder.

Weeds Crop

Tine weederPlough or harrow

› Controlling weeds between sowing and crop emergence

After emergenceof the weeds, but before emergenceof the crop weedsare removed witha tine weeder.


False seedbed

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 Days

Weeds

1st round 2nd round

Crop Flexible harrow/chain harrow Plough/harrow

1. Prepare the seedbed early (2 to 4 weeks before seeding or planting).

2. Wait until the weeds have emerged.

3. Destroy the weeds at intervals of 7 to 10 days using a tine-weeder.

Weeds

Crop

Tine weederPlough or harrow


How to control Striga effectively

Rotating host and non-host crops

Intercropping trap crops

Improving soil fertility

Uprooting and burning Strigaat the beginning of flowering

Using clean crop seeds only

Avoiding dispersal of Strigaseeds during crop harvest

Few Striga, bettercrop growth


How to improve water supply of sorghum

Planting hedges as wind barriers

Using early maturing and drought tolerant cultivars

Practicing reduced soil cultivation

Planting early in the season

Covering the soil surface with mulch or appropriate intercrops

Collecting water in trenches or ditches


Controlling stemborer with the push-pull method

1. Make plots of 10 to 50 m size

2. Plant 2 to 3 rows of healthy Napier grass around the plots before the rain season at 75 cm between rows and 50 cm within rows

3. Sow repelling intercrops together with sorghum

4. Weed intercrops repeatedly


Control of major diseases of sorghumDiseases Symptoms Control measuresStalk rot › Rotting of roots and premature death

› Infected stalk tissue turns dark red› Lodging of plants

› Crop rotation› Use resistant cultivars› Proper spacing

Anthracnose › Orange, red- or blackish purple leaves› Small leaves with circular or elliptical

shape

› Use resistant cultivars (hybrids)› Rotation with pulses› Encourage decomposition of crop

residues after harvest

Smuts › Sorghum kernels are replaced by a cone-shaped gall (Covered kernel smut)

› Long and pointed galls formed by loose kernels (Loose kernel smut)

› Large, dark-brown smut galls emerging in place of the panicle (Head smut)

› Use resistant cultivars or certified disease-free seeds

› Hot water treatment of seeds› Crop rotation with non-cereals› Removal of infected panicles

Downy mildew › Vivid green and white stripes on the leaves and heads

› Heads partially or completely sterile

› At least 3 years between two sorghum or maize crops

› Use of resistant cultivars› Use of clean, properly dried seeds› Proper plant spacing


Control of major pests of sorghum

Pests Preventive and cultural measures Direct controlShoot fly › Use of tolerant cultivars (for late planting

mainly)› Early, uniform sowing at high seeding rates› Intercropping of legumes (non-host plants)› Removal of wild grass species› Incorporation of crop residues into the soil

› Removal and destruction of infested plants

› Spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis against larvae

› Spraying of Neem solution against larvae

Stemborer › Early sowing› Intercropping of repelling plants› Promotion of natural enemies › Planting of Napier grass as a trap crop › Destruction of infected crop residues after

the harvest

› Application of a Neem- or a fish bean plant extract sawdust/clay mixture into the funnel of young plants

Sorghum midge › Early and uniform sowing with high densities› Use of resistant cultivars› Crop rotation and intercropping with pulses› Removal of host weed species› Incorporation of crop residues after harvest

› Spraying of pyrethrum extract

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Sorghum grown under poor management - Organic Africa